Music Review:  Love Riot – Newsboys
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The Newsboys follow Hallelujah For The Cross, their 2014 somewhat disappointing and relatively (for them) poorly selling take on classic hymns, with a return to form with Love Riot. Ten songs in the style that we have come to expect – simple, bold Christ-centered lyrics, excellent musicianship, and strong vocals from Michael Tait – in this 5^th full-length studio album (plus a Christmas EP), in the Michael Tait-led Newsboys era. The album features a variety of styles – from full-out rockers such as “Crazy”, worship songs such as “You Hold it All (Every Mountain)”, and CCM radio friendly songs such as “Guilty”, “Family of God” and “Committed”. Although we could have asked for more than ten songs (2013’s Restart Deluxe Edition had 16 songs, for example), and from a pacing standpoint things get a little slow in the middle (“No Longer Slaves”, “Family of God” and “Committed”), these bold and encouraging songs will sound great in concert and Love Riot is a good addition to the band’s overall canon.

The Newsboys were formed 31 years ago. Currently comprised of lead vocalist Tait, guitarist Jody Davis, keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and drummer Duncan Phillips, the band, riding the popularity of the two God’s Not Dead films, may be more popular than ever. In their career they have sold more than 8 million albums, had an amazing 33 number #1 radio hits, four Grammy nominations and won multiple Dove Awards. Love Riot was produced by Mark Needham as well as Seth Mosey and Mike O’Connor and has an excellent sound.

Below are a few brief thoughts about each song on the new album:

Crazy – speaks of some of the “crazy” things Jesus said and did, and that we might be as crazy in the world’s eyes. Musically, this high-energy song is perhaps my favorite on the album. It is a great opener.

Hero – another creative song musically, this is a worshipful song about Jesus being our hero because of what He has done for us – You took my blame and You paid the debt I owed.

Love Riot – a song of encouragement for Christians to take the message of Jesus to the world:

Oh, what are we waiting for
Let’s take it around the world
We’ll start a fight and join the fight
In this love riot
Oh, ready, set, here we go
From London (New York) to Tokyo
You gotta unite and
Join the fight in this love riot

Guilty – the theme song of the upcoming film God’s Not Dead 2, this song has spent 22 weeks already on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, peaking at #12.

You Hold it All (Every Mountain) – a slower modern worship song with good backing vocals that builds about the sovereignty of God:

You hold it all
(Every mountain, every valley)
You hold it all
(Every tear drop, every heartbeat)

No Longer Slaves – a slower song of worship indicating that as believers and children of God we are no longer slaves to fear.

Family of God – a song that will be popular on Christian radio, it is directed to Christians indicating that as believers there is no more condemnation, just grace. (Romans 8:1). Features a children’s chorus.

Committed – a more upbeat and encouraging song that opens with the line “This is my story, this is my song” from the hymn “Blessed Assurance”. This is a bold song about being committed and pledging our allegiance to Christ our King, not being ashamed (Romans 1:16).

Earthquake – this upbeat song is addressed to Christ. It speaks about how we sometimes need Him to send us an earthquake to shake us and remind us of what He has done for us. This songs features some great keyboards from Jeff Frankenstein.

What I Want Them to Say – A good closer, this upbeat song has an encouraging message about finishing strong, and having a good witness to those who follow us:

He’s the one whose faith didn’t fade
When everything crashed, he didn’t cave
He never lost his awe and wonder
The one that kept me from going under
And he ran a good race

Music News:

• Worship Songs for Receiving and Responding to God’s Word. Our friend Kevin Halloran provides a list of songs (with audio and sample lyrics) about God’s Word might be useful for your church worship services to help God’s people receive God’s Word or respond to it.
• Misconceptions 3. Check out this video of Misconceptions 3 from Lecrae’s new Church Clothes 3, featuring John Givez, JGivens and Jackie Hill Perry.
• Unbroken Praise. Watch this video of the title song from Matt Redman’s latest album, recorded in Dublin, Ireland.
• Jumped Out the Whip. Watch Tedashii tell the story behind my favorite new song. How GAWVI Became a Producer and Then an Artist for Reach Records. Philip Rood writes “Rapzilla recently interviewed Reach Records’s newest signee, GAWVI, about landing with the label as an artist and, initially, as a producer.”
• Good Good Father. Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett of Housefires tell the story behind Tomlin’s hit single “Good Good Father”. Watch Tomlin’s official music video featuring Barrett.
• Celebrating 15 Years of Getty Easter Hymns. Keith and Kristyn Getty write “Every year since we began writing hymns in 2001, beginning with “In Christ Alone” that year, we have made it a point to write an annual new Easter hymn.  Our goal is to tell the story of Easter through these hymns.”
• The Union of Sinners and Saints. The Union of Sinners and Saints, led by John Schlitt, lead singer of Petra, and Billy Smiley, guitarist, singer, and founding member of Whiteheart, released their first single from their upcoming CD today. Listen to “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” is a scorching rock version of the Charles Wesley classic hymn.
• Lecrae Film ‘Unashamed World’ Hits Theaters June 1. A 17-year project spanning ten countries and 37 cities while capturing over 10,000 hours of footage, Unashamed World is the high-energy, deeply personal story of Lecrae’s Cinderella rise from a garage start-up artist to a global phenomenon.
• Hip-Hop Engaging the Totality of Life: How Francis Schaeffer Makes Sense of the Controversy Surrounding Lecrae and Reach Records. Alexander Bouffard writes “Lecrae is bringing the gospel and its restoration into areas in desperate need of it. These areas might not be reached if he didn’t engage with them.”
• Christian Music Grammy Award Winners. Francesca Battistelli, TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Israel & New Breed and The Fairfield Four win in different categories.
• Facing a Task Unfinished. Keith and Kristyn Getty’s new album Facing a Task Unfinished is scheduled to be released June 17.
• Bruce Springsteen: 41 years on the Thunder Road. I enjoyed this music-video-supercut of Bruce Springsteen singing Thunder Road between 1975-2016.
• Who are You? Did you see the Who perform this classic song on The Tonight Show recently?
• Paul McCartney on George Martin. Paul McCartney shares his thoughts on the passing of the long-time Beatles producer George Martin.

Music Quotes:

• I can’t watch a conductor waving a baton without thinking “You’re gonna put someone’s eye out with that.” Michael Card
• If you’re a Christian voting for @realDonaldTrump, you’ve either lost your faith or lost your mind. Steve Taylor
• I thank God he doesn’t accept me based on my ability to do good. I fail too often. His love makes me to want to live pure and have grace or others. Andy Mineo
• Calculus, when to use a semi-colon, the origins of evil, Ben Carson’s Trump endorsement. #ThingsIDontUnderstand. Lecrae

      Guilty by the Newsboys

This song, with straight-forward lyrics, will be featuring in the upcoming film God’s Not Dead 2, which will be out April 1. Watch the video here.
When did it become breaking a rule
To say your name out loud in school
When your names the only one that sets us free
When did it become incorrect
To speak the truth about life and death
When your life gave us all eternity
Even if it gets me convicted
I’ll still be on my knees with my hands lifted
If serving you’s against the law of man
If living out my faith in you is banned
Then I’ll stand right before the jury
If saying I believe is out of line
If I’m judged cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I want to be Guilty
I’ll rise up and honor you
I’ll testify to all the good you do
cause your Grace and your Mercy have overtaken me
So Even if it gets me convicted
I’ll still be on my knees with my hands lifted
If serving you’s against the law of man
If living out my faith in you is banned
Then I’ll stand right before the jury
If saying I believe is out of line
If I’m judged cause I’m gonna give my life
To show the world the love that fills me
Then I want to be Guilty
Guilty by association
Guilty of being a voice proclaiming Your ways
Your truth
Your life
I’ll pay the price to be your light.